August 26, 2024
Himalayan Children’s Fund News
Dear Friends,
At long last, Grades 11 and 12 are in full swing at SMD! The 2024/25 school year is the second academic year to offer Class 11, and is the first to offer Class 12. Running on a different scholastic calendar than K-10, 11 began August 1st and 12 began on June 3rd in accordance with Nepali regulations.
Yarne will come to a close next week after which there will be a 10 day holiday. The photos share some of the dedicated focus of the retreat. Thank you to those who have made yarne contributions. Enjoy the news and thank you for your kind support.
~ Debra Ann
CURRENT NEEDS
* Support is urgently needed for the young nuns and monks attending SMD and SMDBS. In particular, we have lost a considerable amount of support for the young Tara Abbey nuns attending SMD. While an annual sponsorship is great, a general donation for school fees is just as helpful ~ one time, monthly or annually.
* Support is needed to fund educational field trips for SMD classes. Any amount by check or online is always gratefully accepted.
Please pass the word, and if you are currently a sponsor, kindly consider sharing your experience with friends ~ they just might want to help.
Our sponsors and donors are our best fundraisers!
SMD GETS A SCIENCE LAB
Having recently been granted Municipal approval, the first classes using the new chemistry and physics labs at SMD are underway. While other grades certainly are making use of the facilities, this is a boon for Class 11 and 12 students. They now have five streams of study from which to choose: Science, Humanities, Business Management, Computer Science, and Gompa or Traditional Buddhist Studies. Those who want to study and graduate in the science stream no longer have to enroll outside of SMD.
Hover for videos.
*We will always accept any amount toward sponsorships and find additional sponsors to complete the full fee amount. For more information, or to arrange a sponsorship please contact HCF. himalayanchildrensfund@gmail.com
VVI
During the summer retreat, branch school monks were given a lesson on health and hygiene by Jamyang Dorje, a medically trained former monk. Speaking about communicable diseases such as chicken pox, and measures to prevent spreading, he also shared his concern regarding the consumption of unhealthy and unhygienic food as well as the importance of consuming a balanced diet. The monks had an opportunity to ask questions and discuss personal concerns.
Several projects have been in motion in the midst of summer retreat at VVI: painting of the monastery, repair of cupboards for the young monks, and work on Rinpoche’s reliquary stupa. The foundation for the stupa is finished and the tsa tsa’s are ready to be painted and filled. In between their shedra classes and the rituals of retreat, the older monks are printing and rolling mantra papers and tying them with five colors of woolen string for placing within the stupa. Hover for videos.
YARNE
These photos represent various aspects of the retreat at TTC, Thrangu Yangste, and Tara Abbey. Beginning rituals, offerings, classes, debates, meals and online teachings with HH Karmapa. Lhaksam Nepal offered meals of momos, Tulku Damchö and Khenpo Chogyal gave teachings to the nuns and SMD nuns received meditation instruction and practiced after school at Tara
